Speculations of a tussle within the Karnataka Congress -- and a possible rebellion -- resurfaced this week after Congress Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Belagavi, Satish and Ramesh Jarkiholi met Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on September 18.

According to reports, the brothers requested Kumaraswamy to keep Congress leader and state minister DK Shivakumar out of politics and administrative affairs of Belagavi region.

In an interview given to the Deccan Herald, Satish said, "When two strong political leaders enter the battlefield, there is bound to be a clash."

However, apart from Satish, Ramesh and Shivakumar, Belagavi Rural MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar, a close associate of Shivakumar, is also reportedly a part of the tussle.

Ramesh has accused Shivakumar of meddling with affairs in Belagavi through Hebbalkar, who reportedly transferred local officials loyal to Jarkiholi brothers out of Belgavi district.

Earlier in September, Ramesh began seeing efforts by Hebbalkar to gain control of the Primary Land Development Bank in Belagavi, a report by The Indian Express suggests.

Ramesh had said that while the brothers were not angry with the party, they were disgruntled and that "anything can happen in the next 15 days."

"We have our own faction. There have always been factions in the Congress. We have always been a part of the Congress. We have seven to eight MLAs with us," Ramesh said.